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Bridgestone, USW reach tentative contracts

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC (BATO) has reached tentative labor agreements with the United Steelworkers (USW), including a master contract that will cover three tire manufacturing plants.

"The understanding relates to the master contract with the USW, which covers union members at tire production facilities in Akron, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; and La Vergne, Tenn., as well as those at the Firestone tube plant in Russellville, Ark.," say BATO officials.

"The talks also have resulted in a framework for a tentative, separate agreement regarding the Warren County, Tenn., tire plant."

BATO's Bloomington, Ill., tire plant is covered under a separate contract that expires in 2013.

"It has been our goal throughout this process to achieve contracts that are in the best interests of both parties and allow our company to participate successfully in a fiercely competitive global marketplace," say BATO officials. "We believe these agreements are reflective of that goal.

"We now look forward to the union membership's ratification vote, a process that will likely take several days following submission of the tentative agreement to the membership."